Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Ok…. I’m currently in two minds as to which direction I should head in so I thought “why not ask the outerslimits community”.
There’s no sugar coating it… My zook handles like a ship.
In the rear I’m running OME springs & Hilux rears up front (yeap it’s RUF). I’ve got Rancho shocks on the back & some ‘very old’ Nissian EXA shocks up front.
My front springs are really soft & I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to OME rears for the front but then thought would the money be best spent on some decent shocks?
I was thinking of OME N76 shocks (from memory) but wasn’t sure whether this would help control the front end. I’m not expecting them to give my zook Ferrari type handling but would like to stiffen up the roll just a tad.

What are your thoughts?

Put a sway bar on there?

mines lux fronts all round with the load leaf out (so very squishy!) - thats made up for with nice stiff shocks. Mine are bluemax all round and go brilliantly. Put it this way - i passed the lane change test! (do a youtube search for suzuki sierra lane change, its there somewhere). Its still softer than a stock zuk over bumps too - although you still feel like you need a kidney belt at times =P haha

just put the swaybar back in mine and it made a big difference, i now run ruf with 2" lifted kingsprings (3 pack only) and rancho 9000 adjustables in the rear. It now handles way better than it ever did standard.

Sway bars.... not really interested.

Firstly, the car never came with them standard (no jokes). Perhaps an early 82 thing? I rather spend the time fab'ing mounts for new shocks instead.

In that case I might give shocks ago. From Aliens response it seems they do make a noticeable difference.

Do you think the OME n76 (correct me if I'm wrong please) is the best shock to suit?

Yeah - commercial 1.0 litres never had swaybars.

I think you'd be happy with N76's - they are firmer than many other options - AJSR's car, for instance, has shocks that came with a RRO SPOA kit and they are insanely soft - It must have been scary with the SPOA in it.

If you were really keen you might want to calculate the rate on those front hilux springs. Based on the free camber of Hilux springs and the GVM of a 'lux, I reckon you're running them very heavily derated - maybe as low as 100lb/in. With the COG of a hardtop and NT spring spacing, you might just have too little spring rate to achieve reasonable roll stiffness, even though it's holding height ok.

I'd try some firmer shocks lie the N76 and then maybe mix and match some leaves to up the rate a little without adding height. Don't totally rule out a swaybar. With some clever links, a NT front bar might be ideal.

I can't see the point of pulling the front springs out and going back to RUF - I think the front of you car works very well.

Steve.

Bingo! I think you hit the nail on the head regarding too little spring rate. I think I have some leaves lying about & will try that also.
I'm happy with the way the car performs off-road. Sure it aint the best but it gets me into enough trouble.
The only thing I like to do is get back some 'road-ablity'. I draw enough attention without it with leaning 3 - 4inchs each time I turn!!!!

dont be such a girl anything less than 6 inches of lean when cornering is fine and steve is right my shocks are very soft but man theyre pluuuusssh

Yeah........ My little girl is apprehensive to get any where near my car since I put it on its side whilst she was riding shot gun & it was only her first trip out!

Needless to say even the slightest lean puts her on edge.